Changing the video chip is not necessary these days if you have an ADV7175 or ADV7176 video chip because the release of GK600B/ADV7176 firmware and the N6 and Sampo firmware hacks for ADV7175/7176 video chip has made these type of players perform just as well as their ADV7170 video chip counterparts.

However, I will keep this section open for anyone interested in seeing how it is done just in case you ever need to do it (faulty video chip, for example).

The video chip the square shaped chip as shown here:

As can be seen by the picture this main board is an older AD-600A with the ES4308 processor, however the video chip looks the same and is in the same location on the ES4318 board. Therefore if you have an ES4318 board just pretend this is an ES4318 board, OK?

BEWARE!

This procedure involves some very delicate soldering work. If you are not sure you can do this DON'T DO IT! Give your player to someone who can or forget the modification altogether.

Ok, to do this modification you will need the following items:

*An ADV7170KSU video chip from Analog Devices
*Some desolder wick (Optional)
*A *VERY* fine-tipped soldering iron.
*A small flat bladed jeweler's screwdriver.
*Some fine diameter solder

Starting with one side of the Video Chip carefully heat up one of the pins of the chip with the soldering iron with one hand. With the other hand use the jeweler's screwdriver to lift the pin clear of the PCB. DO THIS CAREFULLY OR ELSE YOU WILL LIFT THE WHOLE PCB SOLDER PAD OFF THE BOARD TOO! Continue down the length of the chip until you reach the end. Now do the same thing for the other side of the chip. Then do the other two sides of the chip until it falls off the PCB. Now use some desolder wick to clean up the solder pads on the PCB (optional, but makes the job look better).

Now with the solder pads clean place the ADV7170 chip on the board, noting where pin 1 is. Pin 1 is located where the dimple and chamfer is on the chip. Compare the picture below of the video chip to the picture of the circuit board above.

Starting from the top carefully solder the first pin near the chamfer. Now ensuring all the pins are sitting squarely on the circuit board solder pads, solder a pin on the opposite side of the chip to anchor it in position. Now carefully solder all around the chip on each pin in turn, being careful not to use too much solder or too much heat.

Once finished check your work carefully for any solder bridging between two pins. If all looks OK you can now power up your player and see if everything is OK.

Remember you must change your firmware chip as well otherwise it will not work properly! Check the firmware you require on the chart HERE.